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Don't criticize how we feed him. We spend a lot of time researching our options.

Do not overstimulate him. This includes getting in his face, not responding to his cues to leave him alone, playing too loudly or roughly, and trying to keep him awake when he's tired. Because of the amount of time we spend with him, we are able to understand him the way he communicates. And no, he is not manipulating; he is just trying to communicate his needs.

I spent a lot of time traveling with our LO this December, and I've learned people will do whatever they want with your child, without asking.

My MIL likes giving my daughter mashed potatos. But aside from that, no one really does anything weird. And even the potato thing doesn't really bother me because my MIL is allergic to pretty much everything in existence so they are extremely plain. I guess I have just lucked out.

Oh, gawd, me too. My step mom thought it was a great idea to try to get our 4 month old (EBF, no less) to drink water from a cup at a restaurant...with small ice cubes in it. I suggested it wasn't a great idea with the ice and all, and she said oh, don't worry, I'm being careful. No, you're not being careful. You`re intentionally exposing my kid to a choking hazard. Gah!

I haven't either, and I'm quite happy for other people to look after her while we're out. However I'm lucky that my family is very baby-centric (she's the 9th grandchild) so I'm confident they know what they're doing. They always defer to me when she gets fussy anyway, so I can step in and settle her if needed.

i think it's a little of both for me. certainly never the "strangers don't touch my baby" thing; i let strangers tickle and kiss the munchkin all the time, she loves it. she's had the sniffles for all of a day in her year+ of life, and i'm not the most sterile person on earth either, but i feel like the only parent who's so lax about the "germ threat."

I'm pretty lax about germs. The thing I'm a stickler for is that I don't touch the baby, and don't let anyone else touch him, while we're shopping in a supermarket. Those shopping carts are germ wonderlands! And when a stranger wants to poke at my baby's little feet, all I can think of is that they could have just come from the hamburger/meat case and they could have gross bloody meat hands... lol.

Oh yes I almost lost my shit on my dad's gf who kept clapping at me and wiggling her fingers. Demanding I let her hold my daughter (9.5 mo) and my daughter is very shy and was turning into me and clinging to me. She even refused to go down and crawl on the floor. Yeah not happening lady. I am reading my kids cues. Gah

Also I had my baby in her carrier and was picking up some milk. Some lady came out of no where screeching "look at those feet" and grabbing at her. That resulted in a dirty look from me, saying excuse me and putting my hand over her feet. Her husband pulled her away and I heard him saying maybe don't touch a stranger's baby mm'k.

Can I add to this? To random strangers at the store: If my son's soother has fallen out of his mouth while i am paying for my purchase, don't you dare try and put it back in, I don't want your germ hands near his mouth!! (true story, this happened to me yesterday, I thought I was going to pass out from mother rage)?

Oh wow... People do that? I'd pick up the soother all right, but give it to the mom... I always thought that most people did that, because most babies shouldn't get the soother right from the ground to the mouth... I would think the mom has something to clean it with, or has another one...

Thank you! Came to BtB just hoping to find support like this. We're staying with my parents, and if anyone tells me again how sensitive my son is I will burst. How on earth can they not se that five "strangers" showing their face in his can be intimidating. Add to that he has a temperature, and still they wonder why he's fussy. Pheew, that felt good. Now I will go back to being understanding, I know they mean well.

This is precisely why I have a sling carrier. Baby is attached to me most of the time unless I am sleeping. Also mom family lives super far away. Only thing I have to worry about is this stupid girlfriend of a friends that we don't like who's annoying as all hell.